Punching the Air

Part 3 opens with “Hope II,” which describes Amal’s excitement at getting another letter from his Zenobia. In “Hope III,” Amal finds out that Jeremy Mathis, the kid who Amal was accused of hurting, looks like he is going to wake up from his coma soon. According to Clyde, there’s hope “If he wakes up and tells the truth / and [he’s] been on good behavior” (237). This motivates Amal to follow all the rules and do as he is told. One day Kadon tells Amal to go to the library with him. On the way there, they discuss why Amal doesn’t rap anymore and Amal notices that Kadon is acting like something bad is about to happen. Amal asks him how he doesn’t lose his mind in jail. Kadon responds,

That’s the thing about being

locked up

Whatever you lose

you’ll find it again

over and over (241).

“Family Portrait III” talks about Amal’s cousins Shay and Dione coming to visit him, which makes him cry for the first time in a long while. Dione started college and is attending one of the schools that Amal had wanted to go to. Umi, Shay, Dione, and Amal take a picture in front of the cartoon mural in the visitor’s center since that is the only way they are allowed to take a photo.